. >> this is so much like what happened to one of your former bosses, george w. bush, back in 2004. john kerry came in to the debates behind. took it to the president. the president recovkovcovered oe next few debates. what does the president's team say to him this morning? >> it's a dicey thing. it's easy to forget that these men are human beings. they're demoralized by a bad night. buoyed by a great night. you have to build them back up. and the reality sets in pretty immediately, for any candidate. they know when they've done a bad job. they know when they've done a good news. the good news for romney is he didn't just do himself a world of good for republicans. republicans feel like we have a guy that can win this. he managed to frame the debate that does a world of good with independent voters. framing this election as a choice. really, a philosophical debate with the specifics underneath him, of what we know that romney can do about the role in government in american life, which is something that republicans felt would put romney on solid ground. >> he seemed to reach beyond t